It used to be a bit of a hassle to add displays to a computer. The first one was a given, and with the right video card the second one was easy as well, but after that you had to get creative. There were ways to add additional video outputs, mainly using expansion slots, but these tended to be expensive, or enough trouble that most people that planned on expanded their setup stopped at two displays. Accessories were often an easier option, like Matrox’s DualHead2Go and while easy to use these solutions tended to be expensive and limited.
The extra display issue recently got a lot easier when it became possible to output a display signal through USB. At this point the technology is nothing new but it is still far from commonplace, despite its potential. This technology generally goes under the name of DisplayLink though Samsung calls their UbiSync and Asus uses EzLink. The point is that video is output through USB with no extra graphics cards required. Additionally the systems allow for the use of a number of displays to easily be added to the system, typically up to six (but this depends on a number of things, including what video is being processed).
While Samsung has been producing UbiSync displays for some time, Asus has just released their first DisplayLink product, the 22-inch VW223B. It will run at 1680×1050 (WSXGA+), with a brightness of 300 cd/㎡, a 3000:1 maximum contrast ratio, and a 5ms response time. The display has a three port USB slot built into it, which is not only a nice feature, but will allow users to daisy-chain extra displays from it instead of having to go back to the computer. Video connections include VGA and a USB input, which will serve as the primary connection in most cases. After this the USB slots on the side of the display can be used to get the signal to additional displays.
From a design standpoint the VW223B is rather sparse. It matches the lackluster spec sheet with a lack of adjustments, aside from tilt, and an exterior that is almost exclusively plastic. It is by no means a bad looking display, and the piano black finish can look quite nice if kept clean, but Asus kept things simple with the VW223B. The removable base is simply a circular piece that snaps into the rest of the monitor and while you do get a cable organizer, there is no height adjustment or spinning base for turning the display in place. The biggest feature that was left out was a DVI input, so the display only has VGA and USB available, making this an uncluttered product but one with limited versatility.
From a technical aspect things are a bit more confusing then they may seem. Because you don’t have a traditional video card in the situation the CPU is left to do a lot of the heavy lifting. This is one reason why there is a six display limit on a “typical” computer. The video that is sent over USB 2.0 is subject to a limit of 480Mbps but that is not the the main issue that has to be dealt with (as video is typically compressed) instead decompressing and processing the video is what’s important, and that’s where the display’s built-in DisplayLink technology steps in. Software is required to be installed on the computer so that it can work with the USB displays. According to Asus, Windows 2000/XP/Vista is required, but DisplayLink has beta drivers for OS X available on its website.
Installing the VW223B is a quick process that is as easy as inserting the included disc, installing the EzLink drivers, and then making the USB connection. You then will see the system adding the USB device as it happens with any new piece of hardware that gets connected to a USB slot, and finally you tell the computer where to add the display in relation to your existing monitor. The EzLink drivers allow for a number of different adjustments, including position, resolution, orientation, color depth, and so on. Only a single USB display was tested and it’s not totally clear how controlling the second or third (etc.) displays would be handled, but if it is as easy as the first then having to use DisplayLink to work with a number of displays would be quite painless.
One interesting point is that the USB monitor was not recognized until Windows was up and running. This means that you theoretically can use a USB monitor as your primary display, but only if you don’t mind missing the boot process and don’t have a Windows login. Anything that happens before the drivers are running will only be viewable through a monitor using VGA or DVI so most people will need at least one display running a conventional connection in order to log in, enter BIOS, and do other operations.
From a performance standpoint the VW223B is your standard 22-inch budget LCD. Image quality was good, but not amazing, putting the monitor on par with any number of solid, but affordable products in its class. The picture is more than acceptable, but it’s clear that the USB connection is what the VW223B is all about not image performance, features, or adjustability.
The most interesting aspect of the display’s operation is how using the USB output affects system performance. In one test that was conducted a video was displayed on the DVI output monitor and then on the VW223B (over USB). CPU usage shot up from 20-30% on the system up to 90-100% when over USB. The video ran in both scenarios without any problems, but it was considerably more taxing on the system when it was on the VW223B. So while you might be able to watch Flash videos on a few displays at once, you probably won’t be able to watch HD videos on multiple displays at the same time unless you have a really powerful system. The older test rig handled the single display fine, but any more than that could be an issue if you want to do anything taxing (desktop work should not be a problem). As far as gaming goes, you can pretty much count out USB as a solution–the processing that is needed, as well as technologies like OpenGL, can generally not be handled and a traditional video card really is necessary.
There is no doubt that connecting a monitor to your computer using USB is an option that is both cool and useful. From an ease of use perspective there is no comparing DisplayLink to more conventional solutions of adding displays. DisplayLink does have its disadvantages though, including a possible performance hit, especially when displaying video. The good news is that the Asus VW223B is currently selling for between $275 and $300 which means adding displays can be done at a reasonable price and the premium for the technology is just a few dollars.
MobileBurn reviews the HTC Touch Cruise and writes, “Despite its business image, the HTC Touch Cruise features a whole host of multimedia applications, such as a 3.0MP auto-focus camera, a video camera, a media player, and some games. I wasn’t expecting much from the Touch Cruise’s camera, as it seemed like a sideline feature of the device, and was missing any sort of flash function. However, my expectations were unsubstantiated and the camera performed surprisingly well. Activating the camera is as simple as pressing the shutter button on the right side of the device. Within the camera menu there are options for video recording, panoramic photos and a multi-shot function, among others. Oddly, there was no macro mode, but this didn’t cause a problem for the camera, which still managed surprisingly crisp and detailed close-ups. Also not included was a night mode, but again, the camera did surprisingly well, adjusting itself automatically to suit. However, should the camera not perform as desired, a few small tweaks that can be made, such as white balance and brightness.”
